Freudig Singers perform winning compositions

The Freudig Singers of Western New York, directed by Roland E. Martin, have named this season “Season of Joy.” Their name, after all, means “joyful.”At 7:30 p.m. Saturday, the Freudigs are performing at Buffalo Seminary with special joy, celebrating the winners of their third annual composition competition. Fifty-four submissions came in from four different continents, and the concert features the songs submitted by the finalists. Swiss composer Ivo Antognini was awarded top prize, including $750, for his choral work, “O Magnum Mysterium.” Three compositions received Honorable Mention and will also be heard Saturday. One piece is “Jesu dulcis memoria” by New Mexico-based composer Jeremy Bakken. Another is “We Sang for Joy!” by Pennsylvania-based composer Valerie Showers-Crescenz. The third runner-up is “Comrades and Lovers” by California-based composer William V. Malpede.Award-winning composer Martin J. Wimmer is the competition coordinator. For info, visit www.222.freudigsingersofwny.org.– Mary Kunz Goldman